In a few days the traditional winter celebrations will start again and when you live in Germany
especially Bavaria you probably know this scary creatures
which appears in the night from the 5th of 6th of December in company with St.Nikolaus,
In some regions, like in the area I was born, he is also called "Knecht Ruprecht / rauer / ruhmreicher Percht".
Ruprecht’s origins are definitely Germanic. The Nordic god Odin (Germanic Wotan) was also known as
“Hruod Percht” (“Ruhmreicher Percht”) from which Ruprecht got his name.
Wotan ruled over battles, fate, fertility and the winds.
When Christianity came to Germany, St. Nicholas was introduced, but he was accompanied by the Germanic Knecht Ruprecht.
This dark fellow goes by very different names in Germany, like Aschenmann, Bartl, Boozenickel, Hans Trapp, Klaubauf, Belsnickel/Pelznickel and Ruhklas,
The word Krampus means "claw," and in different Alpine villages there are big parades and parties featuring this scary clawed incubus.
Experts generally agree that the Krampus legend probably derives from some sort of early horned god,
who was then assimilated into the Christian devil figure.
The Krampus costume includes sheepskin, horns, and a switch that the incubus uses
to punish naughty children and unsuspecting persons during the parades (Krampuslauf).
Krampus' job is to punish those who have been bad, while his counterpart St.Nikolaus rewards everyone on his "good people´s" list.
In some places today, children still leave their shoes by the window or the door on the night of Dec. 5.
When they awaken the next day (Dec. 6) they discover small gifts and goodies stuffed into the shoes, left by St. Nicholas.
This custom goes back hundreds of years and is still alive and literally a throwback to a pre-christian tradition.
In Germany and Austria as well are a lot of parades at this special date where all men
during the parade are dressed as creepy creatures and the women wearing masks that are representing
Frau Perchta also known by the names Berchta / Hel / Holle,
a Nordic figure that may have been an aspect of Freyja, the fertility and war goddess.
So, watch out in night of December the 5th !
Beware the Krampus!
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